-- Dog Experts Say "Put Your Pet in a Leading Role:" Research Breeds and Find a Responsible Breeder --

With the release of "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" the American Kennel Club® (AKC®) reminds moviegoers about the importance of making careful, educated decisions when considering adding a dog to their home.

Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures "Beverly Hills Chihuahua," follows the story of "Chloe," a pampered Chihuahua from Beverly Hills who finds herself accidentally lost in Mexico. Alone for the first time, Chloe must rely on new friends to lend her a paw and help her to find her way back home.

Like Chole’s friends, the AKC (www.puppybuyerinfo.org) and the Chihuahua Club of America (www.chihuahuaclubofamerica.com) would like to lend moviegoers a paw in finding their way to a breed that best fits their lifestyle. Both groups urge potential dog owners to carefully research a breed when buying a puppy and to only buy from reputable breeders.

"Chihuahuas are very delicate as puppies, and can be inadvertently injured by being dropped, stepped on, or having a small item fall on them," said Bruce Shirky, president, Chihuahua Club of America. "For this reason, we recommend that families with very small children perhaps consider a larger breed. The Chihuahua Club of America hopes that anyone who becomes interested in owning a Chihuahua as a result of seeing this movie will educate themselves on responsible dog ownership and all that it entails."

People who see "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" may think about owning a dog like "Chloe," said Lisa Peterson, AKC spokesperson. "Chihuahuas are also known for longevity - so remember, before you add a new member to your family, dog ownership can be a 15-to-20-year commitment for the life of your dog."

Regardless of breed, all dogs need to be properly identified. While Chloe received assistance from her fury friends to get home, most dogs are not so lucky. Make sure your dog can be permanently identified with a microchip. Keep contact information current with your recovery service provider, and enroll your pet in AKC’s Companion Animal Recovery ID System www.akccar.org/microchip. All animals are eligible for enrollment in AKC CAR regardless of identification brand or type, microchip, tattoo or AKC CAR collar tag. The AKC CAR database stores over 3.9 million enrollment records and has been used to perform more than 340,000 recoveries.

People can help ensure that all Chihuahuas - and all dogs -- find themselves in loving, life-long homes by consulting resources such as The Chihuahua Club of America and the American Kennel Club.